But she said she didn’t expect her comments to be published or cause so much upset.

She said she was taking a break from Twitter and was ‘deeply sorry’.

Baroness Bakewell, who is chairing the Wellcome Book Prize judging panel for books related to health, said on Twitter: ‘I am full of regret that my reported views have caused distress. I am deeply sorry.

‘I am tired now and taking a break from Twitter. Goodnight everyone.’

I don't want to pick on Joan Bakewell. But if you're interested in causes of eating disorders, here's my tuppence https://t.co/cgLW7FqTFe

In her interview, Baroness Bakewell also suggested that counselling and psychotherapy ‘can get out of hand’ as asking people ‘Are you really happy?’ gave them a chance to consider anxieties that had not previously crossed their mind.

However, she said she was pleased to see the stigma around talking about mental health was fading and .